A few things I notice:
Brazil has all the tools in its hands to, but it does not trade (it's rank 25 to 30).
AUD NZD are overrated (overtraded).
China way underrated but they are new, they were a tiny economy until recently following their cultural revolution.
Canada a bit overtraded but not a big deal.
CHF and USD seem overtraded but that's normal, Switzerland has all the banking and all the big trading firms, the US have the world intl currency (for now) and all investors in the world buy US stocks (for now).
Hehe Turkey is not even there, I think it trades around 400 billions just like Brazil & Australia.
Mexico has a weaker army than Singapore. They're 500,000 btw.
==> No wonder they have drug gangs patrolling the country in trucks with mounted guns and "make examples.
Not impossible drug cartel exports > The country exports.
Russia is a significant world player because of its army. Russia has some major obstacles to growth.
It is rekt by its no access to the world oceans.
==> "Fourteen percent of U.S. counties that are adjacent to the coast produce 45 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), with over three million jobs (one in 45) directly dependent on the resources of the oceans and Great Lakes.". "One of every 6 jobs in the U.S. is marine-related". "U.S. maritime transport carries 95% of the nation’s foreign trade". "More than 80% of the nation’s economy is supported in coastal states". It's that important.
Not a Russia expert (I don't even trade the Rubble) but I think this explains why Russia top 2 exports:
1- Mineral fuels including oil: US$141.3 billion (42.1% of total exports) - sent by pipelines.
2- Gems, precious metals: $30.4 billion (9%) - For very valuable goods higher transport costs aren't that big of a deal.
The strong army is strategic, it gives indirect advantages it is not just for conquering.
But about the conquering... They have the strongest land force in the world and should they just develop supertrains and anti ice ships or something?
Just give up on world waters? Even if the conquer east Europe they'd still be at the same point.
They're good at hacking for sure. And Yandex, VK, culture, video games... Historically they are an industrial power right?
They are Transitioning towards virtual which you do not need to put on a container ship.
Really not an expert as I said but this seems like common sense, and I'm paying attention from afar.
They've been bagholding attempts to improve the situation for centuries "never give up never surrender".
Either recreate some giant USSR (not going to happen) or cut losses and accept this weakness, develop other things.